Beaver Pond Loop Hike
| Trail Features: | Meadows, Historic, Forest hike |  |
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| Trail Location: | St. Mary (Historic Ranger Station) | ||||
| Roundtrip Length: | 3.6 Miles | ||||
| Total Elevation Gain: | 350 Feet | ||||
| Avg. Elev Gain / Mile: | 194 Feet | ||||
| Highest Elevation: | 4795 Feet | ||||
| Trail Difficulty Rating: | 4.30 (easy) | ||||
| Parking Lot Latitude | 48.73843 | ||||
| Parking Lot Longitude | -113.43719 | ||||
Trail Description:
The trailhead for the Beaver Pond Loop hike is located next to the Historic 1913 Ranger Station near St. Mary. To reach the trailhead from St. Mary, turn left towards the Historic 1913 Ranger Station/Red Eagle Lake Trailhead between the Glacier National Park entrance sign and the St Mary Entrance Station. Drive another 0.2 miles and then veer right / go straight on the gravel road leading to the parking area.
The Beaver Pond loop hike begins from the east side of the parking area near the Historic Ranger Station.
Although the Red Eagle Trail is flat for the first half-mile, the overall terrain is much easier when hiking the loop in a clockwise fashion. Moreover, views of the surrounding mountains are much better while proceeding southbound on the Beaver Pond Trail segment of the loop.
I would also recommend hiking
this loop in the morning, rather than later in the afternoon when the sun is
high in the sky. The angle of the sun and the haze diminishes the views of the
mountains towards the south and west.
A little more than a tenth-of-a-mile from the trailhead you’ll reach the site of the Historic Ranger Station, which also includes a log barn. Built in 1913, the ranger station was among the first Park Service structures on the east side of Glacier. It served as permanent housing, and later as seasonal housing, for rangers until 1969. In 1972 the ranger station was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and in 1975 it was restored back to its 1913-1920 era.
Beyond the historic site the
Beaver Pond Trail passes through a forest of large pine trees as it ascends the
ridge. Roughly one mile from the trailhead hikers
will pass through the ghostly remnants of a forest fire that scorched this
area several years ago.
Once atop the ridge the terrain begins to level out. From here the trail alternates between open grassy fields and aspen groves. During the late spring and early summer you’ll find a wide variety of wildflowers throughout many portions of this hike, especially in the meadows atop the ridge.
Less than 1.5 miles from the trailhead you’ll reach the beaver pond from which the trail receives its name. If you walk another 100 yards up the trail you’ll find a short spur trail leading down to the shore. This is excellent moose habitat, so keep your eyes open for one foraging near the pond, especially during the morning and evening hours.
At roughly 1.9 miles you’ll reach the Red Eagle Trail junction. A turn to the left will take hikers to Red Eagle Lake, roughly 6 miles away. To continue on the loop hike and return to the parking area, turn right here.
After passing through more open fields the trail enters another area impacted by wildfire. Along this stretch you’ll notice many burned tree trunks.
Soon afterwards the trail begins its
descent towards the shores of St. Mary Lake. As the trail proceeds downhill it
passes through pine forests, a couple of small aspen groves, as well as several
large thimbleberry patches.
At 3.2 miles you will reach a side trail that leads to the St. Mary Lake shoreline. A walk down this path offers hikers outstanding views of the lake and the surrounding mountains. This is a great place to find a picnic spot and soak in the views before walking the short distance back to the trailhead.
As you continue along the main trail you’ll pass another small beaver pond on your right - just before ending your hike back at the parking area.
The Beaver Pond Loop receives relatively few visitors, thus is a good hike for finding relative solitude. It’s also one of first trails in the park to be free of snow in the spring.
